When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling... actually, no.
It was a ceiling that felt somewhat familiar.
Is this... the residence of the Kakushi...?
"Have you awakened, Brother?"
Beside me was Yoriichi, looking at me with an expressionless face while kneeling politely.
"My, my~. You've finally woken up~, Lord Tsugikuni~."
Seated next to him was Lady Minase.
Aside from the question of why I was still alive...
Kokushibo had said about three days had passed, but I needed to cross-examine that fact.
"Yoriichi, how many days has it been since I collapsed?"
"You have been lying here for exactly three days."
Just as he said, three days had passed.
By the way, Yoriichi and Minase...
Yoriichi was likely placed here as a deterrent to stop me if I went into a berserk state... but why was Minase here?
It didn't seem like it was because she was the strongest among the Hashira aside from Yoriichi and myself... Perhaps she was here as a human lie detector?
She has excellent hearing and can easily discern lies.
Since she possesses the Transparent World and feels no emotion herself, there was no risk of her judgment being clouded by sentimentality.
But rather than going through all this trouble, wouldn't it be better for the Demon Slayer Corps to just kill me?
"But Lady Minase, why am I here?"
Why did they keep me alive?
The Demon Slayer Corps isn't exactly an organization known for its deep affection for Demons.
"As a result of the Hashira Meeting, it has been decided that Lord Tsugikuni will not be executed, provided certain conditions are met~."
That's quite surprising. This wasn't an immediate execution?
In this Sengoku period, where everyone has a tragic history with Demons, I thought for sure I'd be executed on the spot.
Minase continued, maintaining her bright, constant smile.
"Now then, Lord Tsugikuni~? Would you mind answering my questions~? The condition is to verify whether the awakened Lord Tsugikuni is on the side of humanity or not~."
"Ho—. You dare to pass 'judgment' upon me? How... comical a sight."
"Seeing as you speak like that, it seems you are indeed the Lord Tsugikuni we know~."
The test Minase conducted wasn't anything particularly grand.
It ranged from questions like saying Muzan's name or insulting him—things that would normally kill an average Demon just by uttering them—to psychological evaluations like what I thought when I looked at people, how I felt currently, and what my mental state was.
I didn't feel any particular need to hide anything, so I confessed everything: the existence of Kokushibo and the female Muzan avatar within my mental realm, the existence of the Blue Spider Lily she had mentioned, and the fact that Muzan could read the thoughts of Demons.
"I see~. The Blue Spider Lily and those two in your mental realm are a bit hard to believe, but you aren't lying~."
"Is that the end?"
"Yes~. It's over~. You may come in now!"
Minase nodded and then turned her head toward the door to shout.
Come in? Who?
As if responding to her words, the sliding door rattled open and people flooded in.
Unlike Minase, the other Hashira—whose wounds from Muzan had not yet healed—were covered in bandages. Along with them came Uncle Banda, Uzui Ei, and Uta, who was holding Asahi.
Talk about a crowded hospital visit.
But still, is it really okay for them to be here?
"Isn't this dangerous? I am a Demon now. You know... I'm supposed to be your enemy?"
Because the situation was so absurd, a half-joke escaped my lips without me realizing it.
"Hmph! Judging by your reaction, you seem perfectly fine! Young Michikatsu!"
Rengoku laughed boisterously while crossing his arms.
"It's fine. If you run wild, we'll just have to cut your head off."
Shimotsuki smirked as if it were nothing.
"You fought Muzan even as you became a Demon. We Hashira have not forgotten that."
Anji nodded, pressing his palms together in prayer.
"If ye were truly crazed for blood and hungry, our necks would've been gone long ago."
Sakata waved his hand dismissively with a grin.
"Well, if you ever want to eat a person, please do say so~! I'll be sure to decapitate you so it doesn't hurt~."
Minase said something incredibly chilling with a smile that never faltered.
"Really, now..."
Even Amano was there, smiling as she wiped away tears.
The Hashira each threw a jab at my joke, then looked at one another, nodded, and dropped to one knee before me.
Huh?
"Anji, Stone Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
"Sakata Gin, Water Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
"Shimotsuki Shusui, Wind Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
"Minase Hiyori, Echoing Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
"Rengoku Tenjuro, Flame Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
"Amano Ruka, Mist Hashira. To the Grandmaster, the Moon Hashira, and to your younger brother—our gratitude."
After kneeling, the Hashira offered their formal thanks to Yoriichi and me.
Seeing that, I felt a strange, ticklish sensation rising in my chest.
It seemed I haven't lived my life in vain after all.
When I made a subtle expression at the sight, Yoriichi and Uzui, who were watching, spoke with slight smiles.
"Welcome back, Brother."
"My goodness, you certainly went on a flamboyant rampage this time as well."
I let out a hollow laugh as I looked at them.
Still, to think I've actually become a Demon...
God knows what will happen from here on out.
"Yeah... I'm back."
Well, I'm sure things will work out somehow.
@@@
The fact that I had become a Demon was kept a secret within the Demon Slayer Corps, and officially, I was recorded as having died in battle during the fight against Muzan.
The news that the Moon Hashira had become a Demon would destroy morale, and since this was the Sengoku period—filled with people who had suffered because of Demons—there would be many who could not tolerate my existence.
Therefore, the only ones who knew I was alive as a Demon were those who visited my sickroom, the Master of the Mansion, Niimiya Oetsu of the Swordsmith Village, and Lady Shutara Senjumaru.
I really wanted to see the Michikatsu Type Zero, but I guess that's out of the question now...
Anyway, the most irritating thing was that I could no longer eat human food.
When I tried to eat regular cooked meals, I immediately vomited, as if my body were having a rejection response.
If I forced myself, I could swallow it, but it felt exactly like chewing on raw dirt.
I could manage to eat some meats to an extent... but regardless, it felt like absolute shit.
Damn it, it can't be that I can really only eat people, right?
I'm already pissed off enough that I can't walk under the sun, and now I can't even eat human food?
Muzan, you son of a bitch.
'No, you are the one who ate the heart and became a Demon...'
'If you hadn't... injected that poison into him, this would never have happened...'
'You, shut your mouth, Kokushibo.'
'Don't try to sound so tough... it only makes you look weak...'
I felt like I heard voices in my heart, but I ignored them.
Regardless, I was now at the Master's residence.
Being inside the Demon Slayer Corps as a Demon made me uncomfortable, so I had sent my resignation via Mikazuki, stating I would leave the Corps to hunt Demons on my own. However, the Master had summoned me to his residence, saying we should speak face-to-face.
I mean, I'm a Demon... you know... a man-eating Demon? Isn't this... a bit much...?
Master, do you really have such nerves of steel?
Just in case, I had asked Anji and Sakata to accompany me.
I wouldn't be able to put my mind at ease otherwise.
It was uncomfortable... sitting face-to-face with the Master while being a literal time bomb that could explode at any moment...
I let out a sigh and slid the door open.
Upon opening the door, I saw the Master attending to his wife.
"Have you finally... come... to take my head...? Michikatsu..."
As soon as he saw me, the Master cracked a joke.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere turned ice cold.
In particular, Lady Ubuyashiki—who knew the prophecy that I would kill the Master—was currently so pale she looked like she might faint at any second.
....
Sir. Tell me the truth, you're not actually sick, are you?